Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-05
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A WEIRD SUICIDE.


elgnoles; he called himself the Vicon1te Con
an-1oseph DE Signoles. Master Of con-
siderable fortune, he cut, as yoa may say.
quite inquire IN society, his bright and at
tractlve manner, a certain natural grace and
pair OF handsome eyes captivating the wo-
men and rendering him in great demand in
all the salons. Known to be an excellent
sWordsman and still better shot with a
pistol, he lived the peaceful life of well to
90 bachelor. Though when do fight" said
ne, Il shall undoubtedly select the pistol;
with that weapon 1 am sure of killing my
man"
Wen, one evening he accompanied two Of
his friends and their wives to the theatre,
and after the spectacle asked them to join
him in an ice at Tortoni's. They had been in
this famous restaurant but moment or two
when he perceived that a gentleman seated
at an adjoining table obstinately kept his
eyes upon one Of the ladies' of his party, to
her great annoyance and embarrassment. At
last she said to her husband:
That man who is watching me SO closely
do you know him2 l DO mott
NO, not at all, replied the husband, who
hadn't noticed him until she spoke
1t Is very unpleasant, she continued, half
testing, halt serious; "he positively spoiIs my
ice
Nonsense" said the husband, Struggling
his shoulders. PAY no attention to him. If
we were to notice all the insolents we meet
we should never end"
But the vicomte had risen brusuueIy. It
was out of the question to allow an imperti-
npnt mn 1Ovrn tr ioa% Io%L H. oI -
fered to lady. Besides, it was to him the
insult was directed, since it was through him
and for him that his friends had entered the
cafe. 1t was decidedly his affair
Sir" said he, approaching the table and
addressing the starer, you have manner of
regarding the ladies of my party that 1 can
not tolerate. beg that you will at once
cease your rudeness."
go away, go away" the other answered;
Hleave me in peace"
lake care, monsieur, take care De Sig
noles murmured; you will force me to ex-
IRENE measures
The man responded only by a word-an OBJ
scene word-that sounded from one end Of
the hall to the other, and acted like spring,
causing the consoUmateurs to turn about,
the waters to pivot on their heels like whirli-
gigs, and the cashiers at the counter to drop
their change and give a simultaneous twist,
as II they, too, were automatons obeying the
same screw. For a moment there was omin-
GUS silence broken suddenly by the sound of
blow; the viconte had slapped his adver
sary in the face. Every body rushed to in
terpose, and cards were exchanged
Once more at home Gontran de Signoles |
promenaded for a while up and down his |
chamber too agitated and excited TO reflect |
upon anything. One idea alone possessed his |
soul-the duel; beyond that he thought of |
nothing. He had done what he ought; every |
one said be could have done nothing else. |
The first thing to be done was to secure his |
seconds; he must go soon as it was morn
ing and attend to it. But whom should he
ask He thought over all the people of his
acquaintance of high position and celebrity,
and finally decided upon the Marquis de la
Tour-Noire and Col Bourain, great noble
man and brave soldier. The choice was
capital; their names would look well in the
papers. Then he perceived that he was
thirsty, and, draining glass after glass of
water, began to promenade again, full Of
strength and energy. Indifferent to conse-
Quences and resolved upon all, he would ex-
act the most rigorous and dangerous condi-
tions; he would demand a serious duel, q
doubtless withdraw and forward him an
apology.
He took up the card that be had drawn
from his pocket and thrown upon the table,
and read it again, as IL he had not already
read it once in the cafe at glance, and sec
ond time in the facre by the light of the gas
lamps: "George Lamil, 81 Rue Monce.n
Nothing more. He examined anew the as
sembled letters, to him full of strange and
confused meaning. Who was this man.
What did he do! Why did he look at his
friends wife in that rude, inexplicable waya
For a while he remained iinmovable, up
right and thinking, his gaze always bent
upon the card Anger awakened in him |
against that morsel of paper-a furious
hatred, mingled with feeling Of uneasiness.
The whole thing was bore. and he took I'D |
q knife lying open under his hand and dashed
it through the printed name as if plunging it
TO the heart of an enemy. There was no
doubt OF it; he had to fight Should be
choose the pistol or the sword. As the in
suited one the choice was his. With the
sword he risked little; but with the pistol |
dangerous as it was, he had a chance of max
ing his adversary withdraw. 1t was very
rare indeed that duelS with swords resulted
reciprocal prudence holding the
combatants on guard the one against the
other; the wounds were never deep. With
the pistol he risked his life seriously but
also, as already stated, had the chance 20
withdraw from the affair with all the honors
of the situation and without arriving at an
encounter.
Il must be firm" he said aloud; IF I am
firm he viii be frightened"
The sound OF bis voice made him tremble
and be looked about him He was growing
nervous but be drank another glass Of water
and began to prepare for bed.
Il have all day tomorrow be said TO him.
self as be blew out the light. Il must sleep
now, in order to be calm
He was very comfortable between his
sheets, but nevertheless found it impossible
even 20 doze. He turned and twisted. laid
upon his back awhile, rolled upon his right
side, then upon his left, but all in vain. He
was thirsty again and got up 10 drink
1T is impossible that am afraid he said
at last. Then why should his heart beat 50
wildly at every noise in the chamberl Why,
when the clock was about % sound, did the
grating of the spring Startle him till be was
forced 70 open his mouth to breathe, the op-
preston OF his chest was SO great h began
to reason with himself upon the possibility Of
the thing. Was he afraid. No, certainly
not, since he was resolved TO so 10 the end.
even had be the power TO prevent the duel
Neither did he treInble but he felt himself
profoundly nloved-so troubled that he asked